Porto Santo Stefano on the northern coast of Argentario has a long seafaring and maritime history, inhabited by the Etruscans, and the site of many Roman fortifications, baths, and villas. During the 15th and 16th centuries it suffered repeated pirate raids, but revived under the Spanish, who fortified the coast and developed the town. In 1646 the French conqured it but then gave it back, then it passed to the Austrians, the French again, and finally to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1815, where it remained until 1860 when it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

During the second world war it was an important strategic base for the Germans, and the principle stronghold for the Wermacht in Italy. Because of this it was repeatedly bombed by the Allies, the town devasted, and the little trainline that used to run the 10km to Orbetello on the mainland was never rebuilt after the war. But it’s a simple but lovely seaside town today, a gateway to the peninsula; the coastline is beautiful, the cafes on the port are terrific, and if you want to rent a boat or book a diving excursion, this is the place to come. Our friends at argentario_obidiving are the people to go to too!